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From https://france-amerique.com/en/franco-responsibility-louisiana-rises-to-the-challenge/

Franco-Responsibility, Louisiana Rises to the Challenge
Clément Thiery
March 28, 2019

The Blue Moon Saloon features on the interactive map of businesses, institutions, and other companies offering services in French in Louisiana. There are currently 90 addresses listed, including a travel agency in New Iberia, an architecture firm, three cafes and nine restaurants in Lafayette, the sheriff’s office in Abbeville, and a bicycle rental business in New Orleans.

This online directory was launched by the CODOFIL, the Council for the Development of French in Louisiana, and aims to “encourage Louisianans to speak French outside the home,” says Marguerite Perkins, the project coordinator. The other objective is to “create a link between French and the economy,” and encourage the recruitment of Francophone employees.

The idea that businesses also have a role to play in defending the French language is a recent one. In 2009, a hotel in Quebec became the “first Franco-responsible establishment in the Americas,” and launched a movement that has since spread to Vermont and New Hampshire. In these northeastern states, French signs in storefront windows offer a warm “Bienvenue” to visitors from Quebec. And this economic development strategy is paying dividends.

However, nothing of the sort exists in Louisiana. “I was recently giving a presentation on the potential of French to a group of tourism professionals in New Orleans, and none of them had heard of the dual-language teaching programs or the state’s membership with the IOF,” says Joseph Dunn, director of the CODOFIL from 2011 through 2014. “There is an enormous amount of work to do to raise awareness among Louisianans and show them the opportunities provided by French.”

Read the full article at https://france-amerique.com/en/franco-responsibility-louisiana-rises-to-the-challenge/, or in French at https://france-amerique.com/fr/franco-responsibility-louisiana-rises-to-the-challenge/